Rapier

[ʁaˈpiːɐ̯]

/[ʁaˈpiːɐ̯]/ noun

The verdict

“Rapier” is uncommon German (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency German
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - zweischneidige Hieb- und Stichwaffe

Corpus desk

Index DE-rapier · Rapier · German

Rapier · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "R" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for Rapier
PropertyValue
HeadwordRapier
LanguageGerman
Part of speechNoun
IPA[ʁaˈpiːɐ̯]
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Langschwanz-Rang von „Rapier“ im Deutschen

Rapierliegt außerhalb der 100.000 häufigsten deutschen Wörter, im Langschwanz technischer, archaischer oder seltener Formen, genau dort, wo Schreibzweifeln zuschlagen.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

Rapier is uncommon German outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed [ʁaˈpiːɐ̯]. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. Gloss: "zweischneidige Hieb- und Stichwaffe".

We couldn't generate a plausible misspelling set for Rapier, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

No documented word history exists for this headword, so its spelling is easiest explained by how it's pronounced rather than where it came from. The correct German form is Rapier, spelled R-A-P-I-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    zweischneidige Hieb- und Stichwaffe

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how Rapier appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. „Auf dem Heck der Schiffe waren Totenköpfe zu sehen, und auf den Decks standen Kapitäne mit Dreispitz auf dem Kopf, die ihre Pistolen und Rapiere schwangen.“
  2. „Wir entschuldigen uns für den Verlust des Rapiers und verabschieden uns von den Oskorušanern.“

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "Rapier"?
"Rapier" is spelled R-A-P-I-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is [ʁaˈpiːɐ̯].
What does "Rapier" mean?
As a noun, "Rapier" means: zweischneidige Hieb- und Stichwaffe
How do you pronounce "Rapier"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "Rapier" is [ʁaˈpiːɐ̯]. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What language does "Rapier" come from?
"Rapier" is a German word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list